Lubricating device



May 23, 1933. c c FARMER 1,910,599

7 LUBRIGATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVE OR CLYDEQFARMER ATTORNEY May 23, 1933. c. c FARMER I LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed001. 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y R E O 2 w R%A R 4 OQWM ME w Mum 8 W2 illPatented May 23, 1933 PATENT FM-1E CLYDE o. FARMER, OFIVPIT-TSBURGI-I,PENNSYLVANIA, Assieiion, To THE WESTING- nousn AIR BRAKE COMPANY, orWILMERDI/NG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA LU'BRICATING'D-EVICE Application filed October l, 1928. Serial no. 310,309.

This invention relates tolubricating devices of thetype adapted toautomatically feed the lubricant to the several parts of engines, fluidcompressors, pumps, and the like.

Anobject of the invention is to provide a lubricating-device of thecharacter mentioned wherein the lubricant is forced to the several partsof the mechanism bymeans operated by the mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lubricating device for across compound steam driven air compressor wherein the lubricant isforced to the several parts of the compressor by means actuated by themeans for compressing the air.

Another object of the invention is to provide a force feed lubricatingdevice for machines having reciprocating parts, which device is actuatedby the reciprocation of such parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lubricatingdevice havinga reciprocating plunger for forcing the lubricant to the several partsof ama'chine having reciprocatingparts wherein the plunger is operatedsiniultane'ously by means actuated by the reciprocation of the parts ofthe machine;

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type oflubricating device of the character mentioned which is relatively simplein construction, and reliable and exact in function under all conditionsof service. I

The invention also comprises certain new and useful improvements in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the several parts of whichis composed, as will be hereinafter more'fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic section ofacross compound steam driven air compressor showing the application ofmy invention thereto; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken onthe line 2-2 of F ig. 1'; Fig. 3 is a vertical section r taken on theline 83 of Fig. *2; F ig; 4 is a similar view taken on'the line 44 ofFig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5' 5' of Fig.9. i r

With the usual fluid pressure brake system employed onsteam railroadtrains,the locomotive is equipped with an air compressor for supplyingthe main reservoirs of the train with compressed air.

Some difficulty has heretofore been experience'd in properly lubricatingthe moving 'to be incorporated with an air compressor and to be operatedthereby to supply the requisite amount of lubricant to the several partsof the compressor.

Obviously, the lubricating device which I have provided can be appliedto any type of engine, compressor or the liketo which it is pressurepiston of the compressor. However,

it should be noted that in actual practice, it has been found ofadvantage to utili'ze'the power from the low pressurev steam piston,because high pressure flu-id provides an excess of power for operatingthe lubricating device. v

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus may comprise a lubricatingdevice 11 adapted to be driven by an engine 12, which is operated byfluid supplied from an air comprossor 13 ina manner to be described.

The lubricating device 11 may be of any approved type. In the presentinstance, it

is shown as comprising a casing formed with a chamber 14: for receivinga quantity of lubricant.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, thecasing contains a plunger 15 which is sldably mounted in a bore 16 formed in a boss 17 disposed within thechamber 14, is normally maintained ele- Vated by an eXp'ansible coilsp'ring 18 mounted in the bore 16 and bearing against the bottom of theplunger.

The chamber 14 is in communication with the bore 16, through a passage19, normally closed by a ball check valve 20, and a passage 21.

On the other hand, the bore 16 is connected to a discharge pipe 22through a passage 23 which is normally closed by a ball check valve 24,and a passage 25. The ball check valve 24 is pressed toward its seat bya small expansible spring 26.

Bearing against the top of the plunger 15- and retained in contacttherewith by the spring 18, is an arm 27, which is fixed to one end of arockshaft 28.

The rockshaft 28 is operated by the engine device 12 heretofore referredto, and the end of the rockshaft opposite to the end carrying the arm 27is disposed within a chamber 29 formed in the casing of the engine 12,being held in contact with a seat 30 by means of an expansible coilspring 31. This construction provides for ample longitudinal movement ofthe rockshaf't 28 to compensate for wear, and also seals the chamber 29,as will be readily understood.

Keyed to the portion of the rockshaft 28 within chamber 29, is an arm32, the opposite endof which is pivotally connected to one end of a link33 by means of a pin 34.

The link is adapted to be oscillated in a substantially vertical path.Therefore, in order toprevent any lateral swinging there of, it isconnected intermediate its length to a bar 35 by means of a pivot pin36.

The bar 35 is disposed in parallel relation with the arm 32, and inorder that the bar can move in unison with the arm, the end of the baropposite to pivot-pin 36 is loosely mounted on a pin 37 carried by thecasing of the engine 12 (see Fig. 2).

Mounted in a cylinder 38 formed in the casing of the engine beneath thechamber 29, is a double end piston 39.

A slot 40 is formed in the piston body intermediate the ends thereof.This slot provides a guide for a roller 41 mounted on the lower end ofthe link 33.

As shown in Fig. 3, the profile of the slot 40 is such that when thepiston 39 makes one stroke, two strokes will be imparted to the link 33.and therefore the rockshaft 28 will be oscillated in both directionsWhile the piston 39 is reciprocating in one direction.

The air compressor 13 comprises a high pressure steam piston 43contained in cylinder 44, said piston being connected by rod 45 with lowpressure air piston 46 contained in cylinder 47, while the low pressuresteam piston 48, contained in cylinder 49, is connected by rod 50 withhigh pressure air piston 51 contained in cylinder 52.

A steam distribution valve controls the admission and exhaust of steamto and from the steam cylinders and may comprise a series of pistonheads 53, 54, 55, and 56 and a differential piston head 57 having agreater area than the other piston heads, the piston head 53 having alesser area than the intermediate piston heads 54, and 56.

A. reversing valve 58 is provided for con trolling the movement of themain steam distribution valve and is adapted to be actuated in theusualmanner by the movement of the high pressure steam piston to the end ofits stroke.

With the steam distribution valve in the position shown in Fig. 1, steamsupplied through pipe 59 and passage 60 flows to the space betweenpiston heads 53 and 54 and thence through passage 61 to thechamber belowhigh pressure steam piston 43, thus causing said piston to make its upstroke.

When the high pressure piston reaches the end of its stroke, thereversing valve 58 is shifted to its upper position, in which passage 62is uncovered, so that steam is supplied from valve chamber 63 to theouter face of piston head 57.

Since the outer face of piston head 53 is open to the atmosphere throughpassages 64 and 65 and. pipe 66, the unbalanced steam pressure acting onpiston head 57 operates to shift the steam distributing valve to theleft. 7

Live steam is now supplied to the upper side of piston 43 from the spacebetween piston heads 56 and 57 and through passage 67, so as to causethe high pressure steam piston 43 to move downwardly.

Exhaust steam from the chamber at the lower face of piston 43 is alsoadmitted to the chamber below the low pressure steam piston 48 throughpassage 61, space between piston heads 54 and 55, and passage 68.

The space above piston 48 is connected to the exhaust through passage69, space he tweenv piston heads 55 and 56, and passage 65 and the lowpressure steam piston is therefore moved upwardly by the exhaust steamfrom the high pressure steam cylinder 44. When the high pressure steampiston 43 reaches the end of its down stroke, the reversin valve 58 isshifted to its lower osition, in which, as shown in Fig. 1, the chamberat the face of piston head 57 is connected to the atmosphere throughpassage 70, cavity 71 in the reversing valve 58, and parsages 72, 64 and65.

The unbalanced steam pressure now acting in the space between pistonheads 56 and 57 on the differential area of piston head .15 thenoperates to shift the steam distribution valve to the position shown inFig. 1, so that live steam is admitted to the lower side of piston 43through passage 61 while exhaust steam from above piston 43 is suppliedto the upper side of low pressure piston 48, through passage 67.

The air pistons 51 and *46 are thusoperated by the steam pistons '48 and43 to compress air, the low pressure P1813011 46 taking" air fromtheatmosphereand comfipressmg the same into t-he highpressure air cylinderin the'usual manner.

The operation above described corresponds with that of "the"compoundcompressor referred to in the above mentionedlpatent, but

according to my present invention, the com- "pressor is provided Withadditionalpassages 73 and 74.

"Passage =73 opens into 'the 'top of the 'loW pressure st'eam cylinder49, Wl'rilepassa'ge-74 is connected to passage '68'hereto'fore'referredA pipe connects pa'ssage 74 of the air compressor' With a-port76,:in'the' engine device 12, near 'one "end of cylinder 38,"Whi=le apipe :77'connects passage 73 with a port 78, in the engine device 12,near'theopp'osite "end ofcylinder 38 having port 76.

Connected'to port '78is apassage 79 containing a ball check valve'80'Whi'eh norm-ally closes the passage 79 from a chamber"81 at the leftof piston =39.

lVhen piston 48 of the air" compressor is at the upper end of itsstroke,as'shown in Fig. 1, piston'39 Will be disposed at the left end ofcylinder 38, the head of the piston covering port 78, and chamber82 tothe right of 'piston'39 will be connected tothe atmosphere through port76, pipe 75, passages 74 and 68, the space between piston'heads 54 and55 and'passage 65.

Therefore, When the steam distribution valve is shifted, '1nthe mannerheretofore-"de- '-scribed,'to" the" position shown inFi'g. 1, fluidunder I pressure delivered" from T cylinder 44, through Jpassage' 67,"space {between piston heads-55 iand 56 and passage 69, 'into' the-topof cyl ind'er- 49, Will fiovv through passage 73,

pipe77, port 7 9,"unseat*the'ball 'ch'eclr valve 80, and outer chamber81 through restricted passage83,"thereby forcing piston 39 to the right.

WVhen port 78 is uncovered, due to this movement 'of the-piston'39,and'in View of the fact that chamber 82'i's open tothe atmosphere, ashas been pointed out, -unrestricted pressure Will be-admittedintochamber 81 to drive the pistonrto'the right, as

-shoWnin'Fig. 3. *Thismovement of the piston -39 precedes thedownwardstroke off p1ston '48, "because: su'fiicient "pressure Will nothave been built up in the top of cylinder'49 "to cause the downwardstrokeofpiston :48

I exhaust.

z'lh-rough the movement of piston. 39 -fro1n heads 55 and-56, andpassage 65.

left to right,the link 33 will be reciprocated "andthis movement ofthe'link will be trans mitted through arm 32, rockshaft 28, and

arm '27 to the'plunger 15, whichwill be like- Wiserecip-rocated againstthe pressure eX- erted by spring 18.

- Piston 39 Willremain at the right of cylinder 38 until the position ofthe steam distribution valve is'shifted to thele ft'to cause thedirection of the stroke of piston 48 to be reversed. 'Whereupon fluidwill flow :through passage 61, space between'piston heads '54 and 55,passages 68 and '74, pipe 75, port 76,passage85,. past ball check valve84, and through restricted passage 86,into chamber 82. I

The fiuid'entering' chamber 82 will force piston '391t0 the left, andwhen port 76is uncovered, unrestricted pressure Will'be admitted intochamber 82 to drive the piston to the left.

lVhenthe-steam distributingvalve of the air compressor is shifted to theleft for the purpose heretofore described, chamber '81 will be open tothe atmosphere through port 78, pipe 77, passage-73, the upper portionof cylinder 49,'passage 69, space betweenpiston 7 Therefore pressure inchamber 81 Will be-relieved and hencepiston3-9 Will be free to move tothe left.

WVhen port 78 is covered by :piston 39,a

pressure built up Will0CC11I','bIlDg111g the pistonito 'rest Withoutsho'clg asball check valve. 80 Will preventany'further'exhaust.

The movement of piston39 to the left Will also impart reciprocatorymovements to the plunger 15 similartothose heretofore described when thepiston'39 is moved from left to right.

From the for'egoingitvvill be-noticed that the engine 12 is soconnect-ed to-the' air com- "pressor 13 that the-exhaust steam isutilized for driving-the "engine to cause the sameto operate thelubricating device 11.

WVhen the-plunger15- i'sreciprocated in the manner :her'etofore"described, lubricant will 'bedrawn from chamber '14 and :forced pastball check valve 241into=the discharge pipe 22. "In the presentinstance, the pipe 22 is "shown connected to a plurality of branchpipes87, 88,"'89-and 90,- leading tothe several 'pa'rts of theaircompressor requiring frequent lubrication. v p

As shown, pipes87' and 88 are'designed to deliver a qua-ntity of thelu'bricant'to tl'ie high and' :loyv pressure "cylinders respectively,While pipe 89 is connected to the steam sup- "plyfpipe 59 so as toinject a suitable am'ount of lubricant into the steam entering the compressor, and pipe 90isconnected to chamber *63of the reversing valve 58. Cylinder 44 of the high pressure steam piston 43' is supplied Withlubricantibymeans of a passage'91 cons nccted to pipe and passage 90,

As the steam in cylinder 44 will contain a quantity of the lubricant,when the steam flows through the steam distribution valve and. intocylinder 49, this valve and the walls of this cylinder aswell as thepiston will be properly lubricated, as will be readily understood, andas thesame steam which is delivered to the low pressure cylinder a9 isalso delivered to the cylinder 38 of engine 12, the piston 39 andassociated parts of the engine will thus be automatically lubricated.

It is well known that low pressure steam contains more moisture thandoes high pressure steam. Accordingly when the apparatus is constructedin accordance with the present illustrative embodiment of the invention,better lubrication of the parts of the compressor can be obtained,because the available condensation from the low pressure steam is usedto lubricate the working parts of the engine l2.

Wiile one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described indetail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to that embodiment orotherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having now described my inventlon, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the class described comprising a lubricant holdingreceptacle having a valve controlled discharge passage, a plunger forforcing the lubricant through the passage, a cylinder containing a fluidoperated piston, said piston having a cam groove, a rockshaft having apair of arms pro ecting therefrom, one of which engages the plunger, anda link connecting the other arm and having a roller mounted in the camgroove whereby the reciprocation of the piston will be transmitted tothe plunger in a direction perpendicular thereto.

2. A device of the class described comprising a lubricant holdingreceptacle, means for discharging the lubricant from the receptacle, andmeans for operating said lubricant discharging meansv including a pistonhaying a-cam groove, a rockshaft having a pair of projecting arms, oneof which actuates the lubricant discharging means, and a link connectingthe other arm and the piston and having a roller mounted in the camgroove.

8. A device of the class described comprising a lubricant holdingreceptacle, means for discharging the lubricant intermittently from thereceptacle, and means for operating said lubricant discharging meansincluding a piston having a cam groove, a rockshaft having a pair ofprojecting arms, one of which actuates the lubricant discharging means,a link connecting the other arm and the piston and having a rollermounted in the cam groove, and means for alternately supplying fluidunder pressure to opposite sides of the piston.

.4. A device of the class described comprismg a lubricant holdingreceptacle, a plunger for forcing the lubricant from thereceptacle, andmeans for intermittently operating the plunger including a piston havinga cam groove, a rockshaft having a pair of arms projecting therefrom,one of which engages the plunger, and a link connecting the other armand having a roller mounted in the cam groove. v

5. A lubricating device comprising a chamber having an outlet passage,reciprocating means for forcing lubricant through the passage, a piston,and means operated by the piston during movement of the piston in onedirection for operating said reciprocating means in both directions.

6. A lubricating device comprising a chamber having an outlet passage,reciprocating means for forcing lubricant through the passage, a piston,means for supplying fluid under pressure alternately to opposite ends ofthe piston for operating the same in both directions, and means operatedby the piston for operating said reciprocating means in both directionsduring movement of the piston in one direction.

7. A lubricating device comprising a cham her having an outlet passage,reciprocating means, a member operated by s: id means for forcinglubricant through the passage, a fluid pressure operated piston, andmeans operated by the piston during movement of the piston in onedirection for operating said reciprocating means in both directions.

8. A lubricating device conutn'ising a chamber having an outlet passage,a plunger for forcing lubricant through the passage, a piston, means foroperating the piston alternately in both directions, and means operatedby the piston during movement of the piston in one direction for causingsaid plunger to move alternately in opposite directions.

9. A device of the class described comprising a lubricant holdingreceptacle, a piston, means for operating the piston, a member, meansassociated with the piston for reciprocating said member during movementof the piston in one direction, and a plunger operated by said memberfor forcing lubricant from said receptacle.

10. A device of the class described comprising a lubricant holdingreceptacle, a plunger for forcing lubricant from the receptacle, arocksh aft, means carried by the rockshaft for operating the plunger, apiston, means for operating the piston, and means operated by the pistonduring movement of the piston in one direction for actuating therockshaft in both directions.

11. A lubricating device comprising a chamber having an outlet passage,a plunger for forcing lubricant through the passage, a rockshaft, an armcarried by the rockshaft and engaging the plunger, a fluid pressureoperated piston, and means connecting the rockshaft and piston foroperating the rockshaft in opposite directions during movement of thepiston in one direction.

12. A lubricating device comprising a chamber having an outlet passage,a plunger for forcing lubricant through the passage, a rockshaft, an armcarried by the rockshaft and engaging the plunger, a fluid pressureoperated piston, and means connecting the rockshaft and piston foroscillating the rockshaft in both directions during movement of thepiston in one direction.

13. A lubricating device comprising a chamber having an outlet passage,a plunger for forcing lubricant through the passage, a rockshaft, an armcarried by the rockshaft and engaging the plunger, a spring urging theplunger against said arm, a fluid pressure operated piston, and meansconnecting the rockshaft and piston whereby one stroke of the pistoncauses the rockshaft to move alternately in opposite directions.

14. A lubricating device comprising a chamber having an outlet passage,a plunger for forcing lubricant through the passage, a rockshaft, an armcarried by the rockshaft and engaging the plunger, a piston, means foralternately supplying fluid under pressure to the opposite sides of thepiston for operating the same, and means connecting the rockshaft andpiston for alternately operating the rockshaft in reverse directionsduring movement of the piston in one direction.

15. A device of the class described comprising a lubricant holdingchamber having a valve controlled discharge passage, reciprocating meansfor forcing lubricant through the passage, a fluid operated piston, andmeans operated by the piston during movement of the piston in onedirection for causing said reciprocating means to reciprocate.

16. A device of the class described comprising a lubricant holdingreceptacle having a discharge passage, reciprocating means for forcinglubricant through the passage, a cylinder containing a double headedpiston, means for alternately supplying fluid under pressure to theheads of the piston, and means operated by the piston for causing saidreciprocating means to reciprocate during movement of the piston in onedirection.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 1st day ofOctober, 1928.

CLYDE C. FARMER.

